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Monday, March 28, 2016

Sheriff: ‘Super pill’ is deadly and cheap, becoming big problem

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – It’s a “super pill” and it’s invading the streets of Pinellas County. So far, it’s killed nine people in a matter of weeks.

The lethal contents of this small, white pill are cleverly packaged. The pill looks just like a Xanax. But, looks can be deceiving. And, as it turns out, deadly. The fake Xanax is mixed with a powerful pain medication called Fentanyl, which is a highly addictive, strong pain medication commonly prescribed to cancer patients. The combination of Xanax and Fentanyl is so potent that it’s killing people within minutes.

This first-of-its-kind tablet is a mystery for Pinellas County detectives and the Pinellas County medical examiner.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri calls this a public health emergency. He has a message for the people in his county.

“You don’t have to take a handful of them. All you gotta do is take one, and you’re dead,” Gualtieri said.

This dangerous new pill claimed the life of a 25-year-old woman in Dunedin over the weekend. The sheriff is working with other law enforcement agencies, including the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department, to warn people.